Capuli Double Human Effigy Ceremonial Clyster Tube, 850 CE - 1500 CE
Terracotta
15.75
PF.5855
Further images
The use of enemas, either for medical or ceremonial purposes, is prevalent throughout history. References to enemas can be found in the ancient texts of the Egyptians as well as...
The use of enemas, either for medical or ceremonial purposes, is prevalent throughout history. References to enemas can be found in the ancient texts of the Egyptians as well as the earliest written records of the Chinese, Hindu, and Greek civilizations. Archaeological discoveries provide evidence from sources as varied as Rome and the Pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas. Due to its dense concentration of blood vessels, the anus has traditionally been one of the most popular and effective orifices for introducing medicines and mood-altering drugs into the body, and remained that way until the beginning of the twentieth century. Several Pre-Columbian civilizations administered ceremonial enemas with hallucinogenic properties. Although this method might seem rather unorthodox to our tastes, it is perhaps the most effective way to consume these chemicals, both in regards to rapidity and potency. However, the use of these hallucinogenic drugs was reserved for kings and high priests or shamans. Both the skillful execution and artistry of this Capuli clyster tube confirms that these enemas were the exclusive domain of the ruling elite. This unique tube is bifurcated into two male effigies holding their curved arms around their chests. Underneath a small rim project their two small, erect phalli that might allude to a state of arousal encouraged by the operation. The two openings allows for the merging of different fluids inside the tube. Both these holes might have also been used to blow on, forcing the liquids inside the body. This ancient clyster tube is more than an antiquated medical device, it is a stunning work of ceremonial art that reveals an intimate, yet revealing, aspect of the lost civilizations of the Americas. This tube was a ritual object that, through the administration of hallucinogenic enemas, brought the user closer to the gods.